Emil Lindenfeld
Encyclopedia
Emil Lindenfeld was a Hungarian-American oil-painter
. He is best known for his vibrant choice of colors painting working people, idyllic pastoral landscapes, sensuous nudes, peasant
s on the field but, perhaps his most dramatic theme, the life of the miner.
, Hungary
, in 1905. He began his art studies under the supervision of János Tornyai
, a Hungarian master of the 20th century. At age 15, the town held an exhibition of his paintings in the local movie theater.
Hungary soon proved to be too small a home for Emil’s ambition. His dream was the azure skies and bright sunshine of Italy, the cradle of art. In 1926, at age 21, he moved to Milan, Italy with great expectations but only 60 lira
s in his pocket. After spending a night in a cheap hotel, he bought two small canvases and some paint with the rest of his money. He painted two Hungarian landscapes and attempted to sell his paintings by going door to door. Finally, after no apparent luck, he sat down on the terrace of a coffee shop to exhibit his paintings. He was hungry, exhausted and his hope was waning. Then, the curator of the National Galleries happened to see his paintings. He asked for the price and Emil said, “make an offer.” He sold the paintings for 150 liras, which was enough to rent a furnished room in a house owned by the two sisters of a military prosecutor. These caring people helped Emil a great deal. To demonstrate his gratitude and appreciation, he secretly painted a portrait of the prosecutor. This painting was such a success that the prosecutor gave him his office to use as a studio and supplied him with painting materials.
He feverishly started to paint large, massive compositions, which fantasy didn’t let him rest. Day and night he painted working people, idyllic pastoral landscapes, sensuous nudes, peasants on the field, but his most dramatic theme, was the life of the miner. He went down to the mine for weeks to study the harshness of their lives. He also painted the lagoons of Venice
, the tired resting people on the park bench, portraits of Christ and the Crucifixion
– and soon enough, he held exhibition after exhibition in more and more prestigious galleries. Inevitably, he began to win award after award. His work was displayed in as many as three to four exhibitions yearly. Respected art-critics wrote about his work. The price of his paintings sold up to 40,000 liras, a far cry from the first 150 liras he received for the first two.
. Amazingly, even with the disparity of war and losing everything, his hand never stopped painting. During this period, he created several large compositions, mountain-scenes, landscapes and depictions of the lives of the local people. After returning from a life in the mountains, he started to exhibit his new paintings that he painted during the war. In 1946, he was elected Councilor of Italian Art. However, life wasn’t the same in Italy anymore and he heard much about the great and free country of the United States of America. This time, Italy proved to be too small to house Emil’s work and ambition. In 1956, the same year of the Hungarian Uprising
, he decided to move to New York City.
in the New York Coliseum
. He exhibited 150 paintings. Emil Lindenfeld, himself, organized many exhibitions and enriched several American museums with his paintings. During his long career, he tirelessly sought new ways to express himself and his fantasies. In the last phase of his life, his paintings were the perhaps the most revealing of his true self. It came so naturally to him that he often played and sometimes joked with his brushes. It was the most peaceful, happiest and most colorful period of his life.
Emil Lindenfeld died in his home in 1986, surrounded by his beloved paintings and he was buried from his studio in a small, historic cemetery in Bedminster, New Jersey. His doctor and friend, eulogized him saying, “We doctors are teaching patients to die but in Emil’s case I was the student and he was the teacher.”
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He is best known for his vibrant choice of colors painting working people, idyllic pastoral landscapes, sensuous nudes, peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
s on the field but, perhaps his most dramatic theme, the life of the miner.
Early years
Emil Lindenfeld was born in HódmezővásárhelyHódmezovásárhely
Hódmezővásárhely , Romanian: Ioneşti) is a city in south-east Hungary, on the Great Hungarian Plain, at the meeting point of the Békés-Csanádi Ridge and the clay grassland surrounding the river Tisza...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, in 1905. He began his art studies under the supervision of János Tornyai
Janos Tornyai
János Tornyai was a renowned Hungarian painter born and dead in Hódmezővásárhely.-Early life:Tornyai, the son of day labourers, studied at the School of Decorative Art in 1886-88, then a guest pupil of Bertalan Székely, Károly Lotz and János Gregus in 1888-89...
, a Hungarian master of the 20th century. At age 15, the town held an exhibition of his paintings in the local movie theater.
Hungary soon proved to be too small a home for Emil’s ambition. His dream was the azure skies and bright sunshine of Italy, the cradle of art. In 1926, at age 21, he moved to Milan, Italy with great expectations but only 60 lira
Lira
Lira is the name of the monetary unit of a number of countries, as well as the former currency of Italy, Malta, San Marino and the Vatican City and Israel. The term originates from the value of a Troy pound of high purity silver. The libra was the basis of the monetary system of the Roman Empire...
s in his pocket. After spending a night in a cheap hotel, he bought two small canvases and some paint with the rest of his money. He painted two Hungarian landscapes and attempted to sell his paintings by going door to door. Finally, after no apparent luck, he sat down on the terrace of a coffee shop to exhibit his paintings. He was hungry, exhausted and his hope was waning. Then, the curator of the National Galleries happened to see his paintings. He asked for the price and Emil said, “make an offer.” He sold the paintings for 150 liras, which was enough to rent a furnished room in a house owned by the two sisters of a military prosecutor. These caring people helped Emil a great deal. To demonstrate his gratitude and appreciation, he secretly painted a portrait of the prosecutor. This painting was such a success that the prosecutor gave him his office to use as a studio and supplied him with painting materials.
He feverishly started to paint large, massive compositions, which fantasy didn’t let him rest. Day and night he painted working people, idyllic pastoral landscapes, sensuous nudes, peasants on the field, but his most dramatic theme, was the life of the miner. He went down to the mine for weeks to study the harshness of their lives. He also painted the lagoons of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, the tired resting people on the park bench, portraits of Christ and the Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
– and soon enough, he held exhibition after exhibition in more and more prestigious galleries. Inevitably, he began to win award after award. His work was displayed in as many as three to four exhibitions yearly. Respected art-critics wrote about his work. The price of his paintings sold up to 40,000 liras, a far cry from the first 150 liras he received for the first two.
Life During World War II
Then, in 1942, the war arrived on the Italian front. Amidst the horrors of the war, Emil lost his studio, along with all his possessions, in a bombardment. He spent the next few years in a high mountain village named AsiagoAsiago
Asiago is the name of both a minor township and the surrounding plateau region in the Province of Vicenza in the Veneto region of Northeastern Italy...
. Amazingly, even with the disparity of war and losing everything, his hand never stopped painting. During this period, he created several large compositions, mountain-scenes, landscapes and depictions of the lives of the local people. After returning from a life in the mountains, he started to exhibit his new paintings that he painted during the war. In 1946, he was elected Councilor of Italian Art. However, life wasn’t the same in Italy anymore and he heard much about the great and free country of the United States of America. This time, Italy proved to be too small to house Emil’s work and ambition. In 1956, the same year of the Hungarian Uprising
Hungarian Uprising
Hungarian Uprising can refer to:*Hungarian Revolution of 1848 *Hungarian Revolution of 1956...
, he decided to move to New York City.
United States
Emil Lindenfeld was invited to exhibit with Frank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
in the New York Coliseum
New York Coliseum
The New York Coliseum was a convention center that stood on Columbus Circle in New York City from 1956 to 2000. It was designed by architects Leon and Lionel Levy in a modified international style, and included both a low building with exhibition space and a 26-story office block.-History:The...
. He exhibited 150 paintings. Emil Lindenfeld, himself, organized many exhibitions and enriched several American museums with his paintings. During his long career, he tirelessly sought new ways to express himself and his fantasies. In the last phase of his life, his paintings were the perhaps the most revealing of his true self. It came so naturally to him that he often played and sometimes joked with his brushes. It was the most peaceful, happiest and most colorful period of his life.
Emil Lindenfeld died in his home in 1986, surrounded by his beloved paintings and he was buried from his studio in a small, historic cemetery in Bedminster, New Jersey. His doctor and friend, eulogized him saying, “We doctors are teaching patients to die but in Emil’s case I was the student and he was the teacher.”